John McCusker is one of the most influential and respected figures in contemporary Scottish traditional music, renowned for his masterful whistle and fiddle playing, distinctive compositional voice, and rare ability to move fluidly between tradition and innovation.
Born in Bellshill, near Glasgow, John began playing whistle and fiddle as a child and joined the legendary Battlefield Band at just 17 years old. During his eleven years with the band, he established himself as a defining voice of a new generation of Scottish musicians, while also releasing his first two solo albums: John McCusker (1995) and Yella Hoose (2000).
Over a career spanning more than three decades, John has built an extraordinary body of work as a solo artist, composer, producer and collaborator. His solo releases including Hello, Goodbye, Under One Sky, and Goodnight Ginger are celebrated for their melodic depth, emotional clarity and contemporary edge, firmly rooted in tradition yet unmistakably his own. His music has also featured extensively in film and television, including Heartlands, 16 Years of Alcohol, Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand and numerous major BBC and Sky productions.
John is internationally recognised for his ability to transcend musical boundaries. Since 2008, he has been a core member of Mark Knopfler's band, performing on arena and theatre stages around the world, including landmark runs at the Royal Albert Hall and a double bill with Bob Dylan at the Hollywood Bowl. Beyond this, he has shared stages and studios with artists including David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Paul Weller, Paolo Nutini, Teenage Fanclub, Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis, Vicente Amigo, Graham Coxon, The Proclaimers and many more.
Alongside his performing career, John is an acclaimed producer and mentor, working with artists such as Kris Drever, Roddy Woomble, Kate Rusby, Eliza Carthy, Linda Thompson and Eddi Reader.
As a composer, John has published The Collection, a book of 100 original tunes that has become a valued resource for musicians worldwide, and his playing is widely studied for its tone, phrasing and expressive musicality.
John's contributions to music have been recognised with numerous honours, including BBC Radio 2 Musician of the Year, multiple Spirit of Scotland Awards, the Good Tradition Award, and Outstanding Music Performance at the Scottish Culture Awards.
